Fan Central

About the Monarchs: D.J. Morrell's Trek to the NFL

May 13, 2014
By ODU Athletics

D.J. Morrell received several phone calls on Saturday from NFL teams saying they were going to take him in the NFL Draft. Unfortunately, that did not happen, but Morrell did sign with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent shortly after the draft Saturday night.

Morrell is ready to get to Detroit and compete this week with the rest of the rookies that joined the team over the weekend.

“I’m ready to help the offensive line and to go in and compete at both guard and tackle,” Morrell said. “ I think going to Detroit is a good fit. I’m excited and ready to make the best of it.”

Following the draft Morrell had a hectic evening, receiving phone calls from former coaches and friends alike, while also fielding a phone call from Lions offensive line coach, Jeremiah Washburn.

“He just gave me the rundown of what to expect, the schedule of things to come up and that they were excited to have me at camp,” Morrell said. “I’m just so happy to have the opportunity to go out there and compete and show them what I can do.”

On Sunday night, Morrell made his way to Detroit where he will participate in mini camps with other rookies and also the team’s veterans this week. Everything has happened fast for Morrell but he is looking forward to getting to Detroit to meet the rest of the team.

“It’s a dream come true,” Morrell said. “ It hasn’t completely hit me yet, it has, but I’ll enjoy it more when I’m in Detroit.”

A native of Norwalk, Conn., Morrell is the sixth former Monarch to sign as an undrafted with an NFL team and will look to join Ronnie Cameron as the only other Monarch to make a 53-man NFL roster (Cameron was on the Browns 53-man roster but never played in a game).